Improvement in safety attachments for car-trucks



G. C. OFFEN. Safety-Attachments for Car-Trucks.

N0. 145,122, Patented Dec.2 ,1873.

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AM. P140727 -LIl'//00/MPHIO .60. M Y. (HEM/IE3 MINES} UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE O. OFFEN, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SAFETY ATTACHMENTS FOR CAR-TRUCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145, [22, datedDecember 2, 1873; application filed August 30, 1873.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE O. OFEEN, of Portland, in the county ofCumberland and State of Maine, have invented a new and Improved SafetyAttachment for Oar-Trucks, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of acar-truck with my safety attachment, and Fig. 2 a bottom view of thesame.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The invention will first be fully described, and then pointed out in theclaim.

In the drawing, A represents the truck; B, the wheels; 0, the lateralcross-piece, and D the safety-rollers attached to the lower side ofpiece 0. The rollers D are about three times as wide as thetruck-wheels, and provided with short side flanges a, and turn inbracketshaped bearings E, which are pivoted in suitable manner to piece0, to keep square on the track in case the truck is thrown 011 thetrack. The rollers D are hung at such height above the track that theyjust clear the same, the

flanges keeping the rollers on the track when thrown intolnse. Asegmental slot, b, of the top plate of bearing E, together with a stopor pin, b, limit the extent of side motion of the rollers, so that theycannot turn on the pivots too far to become unserviceable.

The rollers may be connected suitably to the engine, to notify theengineer when the wheels are off the track.

On. the damaging or detaching of any wheel, the rollers carryimmediately the truck, taking the place of the wheels, and may prevent,to a great extent, damage and accidents to track, car, and passengers.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent-- The-pivoted bracket-bearing E, having segmental slotI), combined with stop b of crosspiece O, substantially as set forth.

GEORGE O. OFFEN.

Witnesses:

THOMAS WEsT, HARRY STEELE.

